Librariandoa

The Lean Mean Streets of Ord Mantell

2012-01-28T20:10:00.000-08:00

As you can see, the concrete and steel streets of Ord Mantell are much kinder on the eye. I only got the grassy landscape streaks when I went out of the town.

My original choice of classes when I played this game was going to be Smuggler. As only one of two non-Jedi classes, it sounded appealing.

I really like my little shooting smuggler. She drops and rolls behind cover when it is available. She's a quick shot. She's a bit of a smarty without even trying.

They don't let you lean out and shoot from doorways, you just have to plough on in. You're never fighting less than three bad guys at a time, but they go down pretty fast (unless you thought you were leaning out from that door way but you were just getting popped).

I think you can get a better feel for a game if you try each class and go five levels, so onward next to Bounty Hunter or Jedi Consular. Best get the Jedi over with.

Star Wars Knights of the Graphically Glitchy Republic

2012-01-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

After several hours of installation and the most annoying long account sign up package imaginable, I finally tried Star Wars The Old Republic.

I feared I'd never get out of the numerous cutscenes and to actual gameplay, but as you can see I finally made it. Whoa, you say. Yes, I turned all the graphics down to low but eek it is really hard to play with this disturbance in the pictorial force.

From my short time in game, I will say that it reminds me of Jedi Academy and Knights of the Old Republic as far as how the game plays out.

Also, the first mission has me out looking for some silly padawans who have gotten lost amidst the Flesh Raider Attack but nobody in the station seems the least concerned about these attackers right outside the walls, they're all standing around jabbering as if there is no attack. Sort of immersion spoiling.

I played through to level six last night. Very slow progression. The graphical glitching was horrible in outdoor areas but went away indoors. More caves, please!

Some poor fool invited me to a group (one of those without-a-word in advance ninja invites). Number one, I hadn't run into anything I couldn't handle, number two, it would be unfair to group with someone when the shredded landscape made it impossible at times to seem where I was going or what I was fighting.

Galaxies thoughts: when I entered the Jedi temple and The music that always played on Naboo came up, it brought tears to my eyes, unexpectedly. This game really isn't worthy to be playing that music. I have seen nothing in this game so far that makes me see any reason that they needed to take Galaxies down. Completely different games. No need.

What this game does seem like is a Mass Effect variation in a Star Wars skin.

Something that surprises me is that story has been the buzzword for SWTOR but I am not feeling that there is any sort of a storyline in particular, and as I, look at the world and the npcs, the entire thing seems curiously cold and empty and lifeless. Very much "on a rail".

Interesting to see how it plays out.

Time's 25 Best Blogs of 2011

2012-01-11T04:14:00.000-08:00

While you wait for scintillating D.O.A. posts, you might wish to try out some new blogs as well. I have a great set of varied blogs on my sidebar bloglist, but for even more blogs, check out:

Time Magazine's 25 Best Blogs of 2011.

I liked three of them myself:

Everywhereist

A bit of a travel blog and rambling commentary

By Ken Levine

Television writer and sports announcer Ken Levine writes on a wide variety of popular topics, not just on sports. I think his insights into television shows are what I find appealing. This is not a blog by the uber cool Ken Levine who writes the Bioshock games, by the way :)

Smitten Kitchen

An artfully photographed cooking blog. Recipes and charming cooking and baking talk.

Rory's Story Cubes

2012-01-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

I love games of all types, especially games that stimulate the imagination. Perusing the ever intriguing games section at Barnes & Noble I found Rory's Story Cubes.

They come in a sweet little box that opens like a treasure chest. Each dice-like cube has eight little drawings of objects. You roll the cubes and set the nine cubes in any sequence you'd like to create a story.

Sooo cute!

I see from their website that they have "expansions" one for "actions" and one for "voyages".

This can be played alone or with others. I love the box quote:

9 cubes
54 images
10,000,000+ combinations
Infinite stories!

Wishes for 2012

2012-01-03T05:12:00.001-08:00

Click to Enlarge

DOA's Reference Services Thoughts via Wayback Machine (2005)

2012-01-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

I wrote this waaay back in 2005 in response to a call for what we needed to improve in the interest of the "future of reference services". I edited out a few specific references to my library, but dang, I still feel we need to address everything I wrote:

Before we move forward, we should take a look at where we are now.

Promotion of existing services, databases, materials, equipment.

We need to promote what we have. The general public still has a vague idea of what libraries have to offer. We need to target our strengths and promote them tirelessly in as many venues as possible. We need to study our current users and what they use most and promote those things to the larger populace. We need to study what the most typical information needs are of those who come in after “not having been in a library for years” and promote those things. We need to find out what we offer that our customers don’t find anywhere else, promote that and offer more of it.

Interpreting the library catalog for current and new users

We need to do a much better job of interpreting our online catalog. It is not friendly to new users. Customers have ongoing problems seeing that an item is in at the branch, deciphering which branch does have the item, and telling which collection or shelf the item might be filed in.

Partially because we do not use the same interface to the catalog as our users, we are often not familiar with it and are not able to help them effectively. When changes are made to the customer user interface we are often unaware of it until the customer asks for help.

How responsive are we to these difficulties? Do we provide tipsheets to the catalog? Do we try to address in a timely manner problems the public encounters? Why are many of the search mechanisms in the public catalog not useful? How can these things be improved?

On the Web

Everything we do needs to be on our web page in an accessible and attractive format. We need to offer tutorials and tip sheets on our pages for using the library catalog, the electronic resources, and frequently asked questions from the public using our Internets and Word Processors. We need to offer Mouse Practice or links to Mouse Practice sites.

We need forums for public feedback, or places on the page for discussion and/or reviews of books,movies and CD’s by staff and the public. It needs to be alive and interactive.

The library web pages should reflect the communities in our area. You should be able to get a good snapshot of the county and what it has to offer from the library page. Perhaps each community library needs a page to help break it down into smaller segments. Education, entertainment, local government should all be reflected.

We need far more Reader’s Advisory on the web. If you like…. Lists need to be added.

Community Libraries

The people behind the public service desks are the library to most people. Our past ratings show appreciation for our service efforts. One of the things we offer that is getting increasingly hard to find anywhere is good service. We need to make sure we are there to answer questions of all types, and to make people of all ages feel welcome. We need to be there to interpret our catalog, act as a guide to our large collections, give advice on Internet searching, help with basic Microsoft office and the various information storage devices.

What we offer gets more complex every year, and we are in a unique position to make sure the public gets the most out of what we can give. We need to find ways to work with other organizations in the community such as schools, businesses, citizen organizations, literacy groups, social groups. We need to know our community well and be able to refer our customers to other groups who might provide services we don’t offer.

On the Desk with the Insulted by Your Bad Behavior Librarian

2011-12-31T06:41:00.000-08:00

Click to Enlarge!

In the coming year, be nice to your neighborhood librarian. They are potentially able to help you with just about any question you have. Rare indeed!

On the Desk: Thou Shalt Not:

Yank on the door we’re trying to unlock

Steal paper from the copier ( or steal anything from us for that matter. Emptying the copier is BAD)

Ask the same question every single day as if it were new

Spend all day at the library every day and act like you don’t know what our hours are..for example you are unwilling to leave each night because you think we’re open till midnight.

Move the furniture around so you can be all comfy. Go on home and create that snuggly spot for yourself.

Ask the same question several different ways to which the answer is still no.

Remark that we are too busy, too not busy. We are available to help you either way.

Try to get us to override your bazillion overdues so you can...do whatever. Pay up!

Demand to know how we’re doing in a manner that says we’d better be just chipper or ELSE.

Sometimes the answer is NO.

And my favorite post chemo no freakin' hair comment: Don't ask!!!!! WHAT'S WITH THE SCARF? ...as if it was a personal silly insult to you!!!! Eat Beans and dig deep for the politeness your momma should have taught you.

Ah....D.O.A. Lives, and it is GOOD :)

Fast Away the Old Year Passes

2011-12-30T12:58:00.000-08:00

What a mixed bag this year has been. Work has been interesting, my garden was just great (only sinking into a bit of weediness outside the new fence late in the season), I’ve read a nice stack of good books. People I care about just seem to get better and better. I am lucky in my circle of beloved people. Things seem to be looking up for pc gaming and thus my gaming life, which had been languishing.

Nobody close to me died this year, yay! My getting diagnosed with cancer...whoa left field and icky. But, it doesn’t appear it will kill me soon so I’m attempting to adjust my teeny mind to the whole thing.

The world in general has gone to heck in a handbasket but I can only work with what goes on in my corner of it. I’m hoping for an upturn in the economy, for the first time in my clueless life. La la la.

I have vague plans to improve myself in the coming year. Time to kick it in and polish this t***, right?

Cryptogram!

2011-12-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Return of the cryptogram. During NanoWrimo month, I wrote not a single word. Too much pressure or what? Back to utter silliness, as we should be.

GED KYDMGZYD EMNGDO, KYIZKEDO NIJ MVMCSWG GED VYIZSO, WGMYCSV MG GED GCSU XICSGW IB NCVEG GEMG NMU MEDMO, RZYSCSV WIBGNU GEYIZVE GED OMYTSDWW.

National Novel Writing Month (NanoWrimo) begins today

2011-11-01T03:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to November, and National Novel Writing Month. You're encouraged to write that 50,000 word novel that has been bursting to come out lo these many years.

Our library is sponsoring two writing events to help inspire Wrimos to keep plugging away. There are other informal events in the Twin Cities, but our writer's group has a great hour and a half planned to help you get over any bits of discouragement or writer's block you may be experiencing.

I am trying this out myself in sympathy with our would be writers, wish me luck. I usually do National Blogging Month but after the rigors of last year, and getting so close to perfect then missing Thanksgiving Day, grr, I'm turning my efforts elsewhere for a year.

Sign up for NanoWrimo here.

Last Week's Cryptogram Answer

2011-10-29T03:31:00.000-07:00

EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED, THE SAND STILL MANAGED TO CREEP INTO THE RAILWAY CAR AND FIND ITS WAY INTO THE MOST INCONVENIENT PLACES.

LJLU CPME MEL CPUKBCQ ITBQLK, MEL QXUK QMPTT YXUXVLK MB IALLN PUMB MEL AXPTCXR IXA XUK SPUK PMQ CXR PUMB MEL YBQM PUIBUJLUPLUM NTXILQ.

Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh by R. L. LaFevers

Last Week's Rebus answer

2011-10-29T03:25:00.000-07:00

Murder on Sisters' Row a Gaslight Mystery by Victoria Thompson

Halloween Wordsearch

2011-10-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

Halloween Words!

A H C Q O T L O W Y M H B S S
Q S D O H C C R T F U W R T C
E O K G B T P R E G A N O A R
T F I C O W A A R F O C O E E
P R L B I P E A J R T O M R A
F U E O H R V B D Y T S S T M
D R M P W E T L S P Z T T Z T
C A L P S E U M A S K U I L S
W T M T K A R Y E M S M C L O
I O O U C I C E S A D E K E H
I N L K F P N A W P W G H B G
E Y E B A L L S P I Y W X R R
T A C K C A L B T E C G K O Q
R M A K E U P C T R P V J O R
E D I R Y A H Y D N A C A D P

BLACKCAT BROOMSTICK CANDY
CAPE CAULDRON COBWEB
COSTUME DOORBELL EYEBALLS
FRIGHT GHOST GRAVESTONE
GYPSY HAYRIDE MAKEUP
MASK OCTOBER PARTY
PUMPKIN SCREAM TREATS
TRICKS WEREWOLF WITCH

Just in case the puzzle got scrambled when I copied and pasted:

Whitinsville High School Band plays an arrangement of Skyrim's Main Theme

2011-10-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

I think this high school band making and playing an arrangement from the upcoming game Skyrim is so cool. The music from the Elder Scrolls games is always beyond beautiful and having this small band honor it is such fun.

Once Upon a Time Premier

2011-10-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

Once Upon a Time has an entire modern day town enchanted and full of unknowing fairy tale characters. The only people who know this secret are a boy named Henry, the wicked witch mayor of the town, and a doubting bail bondsman named Emma Swan.

The story wends back and forth between the modern day and fairy tale world, showing how things got to be so incredibly odd.

Standout characters are Emma, a tough girl who gave up a baby ten years ago; Snow White, a tragic but flawed princess; The Wicked Witch, who is scarier in her modern day politician's guise than in full witch regalia; and the nasty little character of Rumpelstiltskin, who is glowingly evil in the fairy tale past and in the modern day world.

In the opening, Henry shows up at Emma's door and asks her to come home to Storybrook with him. She obliges reluctantly but after a few rounds with Ms Witch, she decides to stay one week as Henry asks, just to see what things are really like in town.

In the fairy tale world, we see the wicked witch threatening a curse on all, which comes to fruition just as Emma is born to Snow White and Prince Charming.

Next week promises to show just what Snow White did to deserve such hatred from the witch.

The real stories behind the fairy tales will be told as the series plays out.

The weaving of old and new promises to be an interesting way of advancing the story. I am already rooting for Emma to be victorious in "the final battle". She's an underdog with a heroine just beneath the surface.

TVNotes Week of Oct 17

2011-10-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

Dancing with the Stars

I was a little relieved to see someone with lesser dancing skills get sent home this week. Although Carson Cressley really worked hard on his dancing skills, he just didn't have what he needed to move forward dancing wise. As the judges are always saying, with ballroom dance, its the whole package that has to be there in order to be good.

Survivor

Silly to send home good competitor Mikayla over good egg Edna, but I think the teams may be getting merge-itis and they're altering their game a bit to take out individual threats who they think may not be loyal after a merge. I've seen it happen too many times where they do this though too early and cause their team to go into a losing streak. Let's hope Mikayla can at least unseat bratty Christine from Redemption Island. I don't think Mikayla will be so brooding and whiny and all around bleh as a Redemptioner.

Person of Interest

Nice episode for Reese who gets to be both a very sympathetic character and a bad ass.

He is always those things, but he was so determined to ease the suffering of the judge who he felt for, and yet he had that old drive the guy in your trunk around in circles to make him dizzy and get him to talk trick up his sleeve. Then he tosses another guy in with him like no problem. He's got subtle torture tricks we can only guess at in his repetoire.

I like how he keeps trying to get in under Finch's skin. The interplay between those two is fun.

Ye Eggs Benedict

Terra Nova

Another weak episode, and they only have 13 episodes and no renewal flag yet. They should have made much stronger storylines, it's just lazy that they did not.

The theme is a little girl from the Sixers comes out of nowhere and wants to join them, she has run away she says. She acts all feral and grubby, but as soon as she is cleaned up a bit she steals something from Mira's old house and tries to get out with it. She makes eyes at Shannon and says wah wah Mira made her do it and Mira would hurt her lil brother Sam...

Of course Shannon cruises right over to the Sixer's area (though nobody knows, wink, where they are) gets beat up, hears a sob story from Mira about the future holding her own daughter hostage (made up is my thought since they were looking a week ago to find a way to get at the new security chief).

Shannon goes back home with Sam and a sort of bond with Mira over family matters...Kinda weak sauce.

First Line Cryptogram for Sat Oct 22

2011-10-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

LJLU CPME MEL CPUKBCQ ITBQLK, MEL QXUK QMPTT YXUXVLK MB IALLN PUMB MEL AXPTCXR IXA XUK SPUK PMQ CXR PUMB MEL YBQM PUIBUJLUPLUM NTXILQ.

Book Title Rebus for Saturday October 22

2011-10-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

Last Week's Cryptogram Answer

2011-10-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

THE WIND COULD BLOW DOWN A FULL-GROWN MAN, BUT IT WAS THE DUST THAT WAS THE WORST.

ZWP QOUC NXITC FTXQ CXQU V BITT-AJXQU GVU, FIZ OZ QVR ZWP CIRZ ZWVZ QVR ZWP QXJRZ.

All the earth, thrown to the sky by Joe R. Lansdale

Last week's Title Rebus Answer

2011-10-22T05:51:00.000-07:00

The Edge of the World Terra Incognita Book One by Kevin J. Anderson

Guardian UK: Is Reading on the Loo Bad for You?

2011-10-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

It's a great newsday, isn't it? I expected them to mention something about circulation being cut off if reading a real tome in the bathroom, but no, this is a thoughtful write up with a classic bent (as it were). (Must resist making a cartoon to go with this...)

Is reading on the loo bad for you?Filthy habit or blameless bliss? A public health study by Ron Shaoul lifts the lid on toilet reading once and for all

A Well Stocked Reading Room

Library of Congress Teacher's Guide to Primary Sources

2011-10-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

It appears the great LC blogs and here's one we librarians can use for all those kids and their papers needing "Primary Sources".

The Library of Congress Teachers Page: Resources for Getting Started with Primary Sources

Click to Enlarge

Momisms and other oddities

2011-10-18T03:18:00.000-07:00

I always mean to post these around Mother's Day, but I never get around to it. Time and tide wait for no bozo, so I'll put the ones I have here from all my little scraps of paper.

Mom had a unique view of the world, to say the least.

Scrub before surgery (wash your hands before baking).

He's got a wild hair (usually other drivers but could be anyone who was acting overly aggressively).

Good gummers (one of those ploys to get small children to eat their food).

The hanging kind (droopy women).

I'm no ordinary dummy (she was in fact quite smart and crafty in all ways).

Some people's children...(always her own, when acting badly)

Buy em books and buy em books and all they do is chew the covers (mom's way of saying you're being stoopid)

Taking the chicken route ( in later years she didn't see street signs well and didn't like heavier traffic so she had a set of backroads to take everywhere).

Good enough for who it's for (meaning good enough for you...)

Stroopapeta (one of the words from German or Norwegian she knew, no idea of the spelling..this was someone with messy messy hair, aka me.)

Fight de gout (a concoction of white sauce with brown sugar on bread, meant to fight gout amongst the oldsters. Very sugary and tasty).

Shower, shit and shave (gotten from dad in his army days, I'm sure. Just one of those encouraging get moving phrases moms pick up.)

Don't make a meal of it (eight kids, not always enough food to go around, just take your share)

Don't be a Good Samaritan (Don't go over to a friends house and clean their room...don't ask)

Beauty must suffer (while she cut or combed my unruly hair)

Somebody always knows somebody who knows somebody...(if there was a local grisly murder, one of the kids always knew someone who knew the victim or perp, was her thinking)

She has a mouthful of teeth (people with large, prominent teeth)

Take two, they're small (another way of letting you know you're being a hog, or, it could actually mean a serving was very small in her eyes.)

Down in front! (lots of people watching tv seated on the floor who might be in everyone else's way.)

I just don't live right (when she was discouraged, she felt this was the cause)

I'm just going to buy a cow (hard to keep a supply of milk for eight kids)

When my ship comes in (she had many plots for making money or becoming famous for her arts and crafts.)

The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray (classic stuff to make you feel better when things went poorly)

When one door closes another door opens (I certainly heard this alot from her, there's always some other opportunity ahead).

Everybody and their brother (big crowd)

This too shall pass (thank heavens she was right on this one)

Heard tell ( I heard tell...letting you know she already knew all about something)

Where you born in a barn? (Don't leave the door open)

After me, then you come first (putting you in your proper place, eh?)

One side or a leg off! ( Don't get in mom's way!)

Better than a sharp stick in the eye (accept things as they are)

Make do (with what you have)

We'll see...(no and just stop bugging me)

See, Stew? (You get it? or Just Do it!)

Shaking like a leaf (We Leary's all try to appear calm but sometimes our body betrays us and we shake from the inside out)

Shaking like a dog sh*tting pea seeds (no idea what a pea seed is but this is when you're REALLY shaking inside and out).

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Where there's life, there's hope (sometimes used inspiringly, sometimes snarkily)

See America Accidentally! (getting lost or taking those Chicken Routes will allow you to see America accidentally)

Don't get your shorts in a bind

TV Notes: Last Week's Edition

2011-10-17T03:28:00.000-07:00

How time is flying!

Dancing with the Stars

Another snoozer of an episode. Missed most of it. What can I say. I did see pro Tony really being a twit to Chynna who seemed pretty wounded by his jerky behavior. I think she lost confidence in their partnership and it played out on the dance floor. I would have thought people would feel sorry for her, but noooo. Taking out the best dancers seems to be what we're getting this season. It will be sort of a farce to watch the finals with poor dancers stumbling the light fantastic.

Survivor

The world's grossest challenge as the survivors have their hands tied behind their backs and they bite off roasted pig and spit it into a basket to be weighed. Spit. Meat stuck in teeth. Winners get to take their basket home...vomit city!

Cocky Ozzie, who looks like a dream but thinks like a bonehead gets his snuggle mate voted off in a blindside. Elise had no personality and nothing to offer on her own so no loss to the tribe, and a good strategic move orchestrated by villanous Jim.

Person of Interest

Good episode with a nice plot twist and an ending that we can only guess the outcome of. A dedicated doctor becomes the Person of Interest for a sexual predator who uses date rape drugs. As it turns out, she is actually stalking him. Very brave lady, determined to get vengeance at all costs. She had a great plan for ridding the world of her vermin-esque prey.

Terra Nova

Classic sci-fi plot with a remote science station that has fallen to some unknown organism. Can our heroes help figure out the cause and the cure in time?

I think the Malcolm character is becoming a bit too much of a punching bag, they need to give him some dignity.

Hints that the security chief has the hots for Commander Taylor.

At episode's end, Mira, the stylin' leader of the Sixers is revealed to have the ability to communicate with the future and get people sent through and who knows what else.

So much for sneaky

2011-10-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Finally installed. Game looks great. There are a couple of ways to play:

Story Mode (Known as too steenkin EZ, you're a weenie mode)

Challenge Mode (Lots of baddies attack you around every corner mode)

I'm taking the Challenge Mode, why not? So we begin our story in a future where genetic augmentation is about to be made available to everyone. Apparently someone doesn't like this idea so our pristine lab comes under attack after a brief tour of the facility.

Shiny lab

After a bunch of alarms went off and I was sent to find out what happened, I was all sneaky, walking through corridors, working my crouch move, staying behind boxes. I get to a big room with two bad guys, pop up from behind my box and take them by surprise with my mighty machine gun. Oops! They must be augmented and I'm not, cause they just shoot me down like a doggie.

So...I'm stopping there for the nonce. I'm wondering if my sluggardly form will be found lying there and I'll be brought back all full of superhuman parts so I can go back after those chumps for a bit of revenge. Seems likely. They took no damage at all so its a put up job, I'm thinking. Or...I reload and try to be sneakier. We shall see.

Note: My sneaky husband wanted to try out the game. After grumpiness for having to dig out the Steam Password in order to play, he was in. He wasn't playing long at all when he came upstairs. He was bored with the cutscene and left the characters traveling up an elevator....he goes back down and is gone for awhile. He says he got past my guys who were EASY. Went aways and encountered a third guy, aways more, and a fourth guy killed him.

While playing Bioshock, he developed a sensitivity to the movement on the screen and he gets queasy after a small bit. At least he got farther than me and he has provided a bit of intel as to what's ahead. Have to be sneakier on those first two guys. Who are EASY.

Installing Deus Ex: Steamed Again

2011-10-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

So...I don't buy computer games much anymore because so few are made. It used to be you inserted the disc and could watch a cute little slide show while the game installed. The fun began right away.

Now...I buy a game made by Eidos and Square Enix...no slide show, but I need my Steam password to even begin installing. Dig out pass, check.

There are four different activation codes in the box. Final one works.

Installation one hour! No slideshow!

And, for some reason the installation is consuming my system resources and is interfering with my internet connection! So...I'm going going to have to copy and paste this into Word so I can post it when the hog is done. Yikes.

Also, without asking I noticed Steam installing something for Half-Life Two which I may or may not have wanted.

This is why I don't like these online "services".

A Saturday Cryptogram

2011-10-15T06:22:00.000-07:00

ZWP QOUC NXITC FTXQ CXQU V BITT-AJXQU GVU, FIZ OZ QVR ZWP CIRZ ZWVZ QVR ZWP QXJRZ.

A new first line of a book cryptogram. Again, dipping into my own fine collection of books.

A Saturday Title Rebus

2011-10-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

This title sort of really went to the edges...good luck! I've decided to use my own collection now instead of random books coming across my work desk :)

Gamenotes: What to play next?

2011-10-13T04:54:00.000-07:00

I have not been playing anything but Farmville for several months. I think this is rotting my brain...which may be why I keep reading those Zombie novels. Just a theory.

Real games require thought, strategy, resourcefulness and immersion in game and story. Here's what I'm looking forward to:

Neverwinter

Official Site

Coming up late next year from Cryptic Studios, this might be kind of dicey, but the world of Neverwinter is so appealing, and the game will be free to play, so I must try it out.

Cryptogram Answer

2011-10-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

The answer to last week's Cryptogram:

CLARA WAS STARTLED BY THE METALLIC CLANK AS THE LOCK ON HER CELL DOOR TURNED.

TWSPS ZSJ JUSPUWNM HR ULN ANUSWWBT TWSEO SJ ULN WYTO YE LNP TNWW MYYP UKPENM.

The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

BookNotes: The Enemy and The Dead by Charlie Higson

2011-10-09T08:36:00.000-07:00

I read the second book first, something I seem to be doing lately.

The Dead envisions a London that has either killed or turned into child-eating zombie like creatures everyone 16 and over. It starts in a boys school where the plague is new (just a week or so) and kids are fighting off the teachers who have slowly turned from protectors to raging slavering beasts.

The kids decide they have to try to get away from the school, hoping things are better in either the countryside or in London proper. The group splits, and is soon ravaged by younger zombies who overpower them and decimate their numbers. They fall back together under the protection of Greg, a former butcher with a young son who seems to have avoided the plague and who offers them a place on his bus, headed to London.

I thought the wide cast of characters were well drawn, and as they were inevitably picked off one by one, you really felt their loss. No character, no matter how likeable, was safe from being dispatched in a quick or spectacular manner.

If you like post apocalyptic novels, survival stories, or just adventures, you can't go wrong with this page turner.

The first book, The Enemy, which I read next, is a bit slower, characters not as well developed (in fact I had a hard time deciding who I liked and was rooting for quite a ways into the book).

The Enemy takes place about a year after the beginning of the zombie plague. Kids have holed up in a supermarket which they have reinforced, but they must go in an ever widening arc to scavenge for supplies.

On one of these runs they are ambushed by grownups, which is new behavior for these lumbering beasts. Their ranks are decimated, and their leader, who is the most engaging character, is fatally wounded. I think that Arran's getting taken out so soon before all the characters were established was a real flaw in this one. It just left a gap in leadership and someone to root for too early on. Hmmmm.

There are a few characters in The Enemy who are further developed in The Dead. There is a new book out in England in the series called The Fear which we won't get here for, what, a year? I hate those delays.

I suspect and hope in book three that many of our characters will come together in a nice climactic battle. I hate waiting so long for a sequel.

TVNotes: Kind of a Blah Week

2011-10-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

Kind of a blah week in the tv trenches.

Dancing With the Stars

I thought everyone danced well this week, gone were the obvious flubs. I couldn't guess who might go but I was surprised when it was Kristin Cavallari. She (was) one of the most promising dancers. I do watch the show to see people gliding effortlessly across the floor looking wondrous. Luckily I am not attached to anyone this season so I don't mind so much seeing someone really good get popped because they lacked personal oompf.

Survivor

Stacey has got to be the grumpiest Survivor ever. I wasn't sorry to see her go at all. She never exibited any of the snuggly mom behavior I hoped for when she started. She was more like a scary "I'm to to whoop you" mom. Glad Christine beat her at Redemption so she can go poof from the show. Sheesh.

Person of Interest

Not a favorite episode, with a theme of returning vets robbing banks to make extra cash. Everyone was pretty unlikeable.
Small glimpse of Reese's old love (whom I had thought was dead) running into him and offering to try again with him.

Terra Nova

I admit I read all the reviews of the episode before watching and I was prepared to hate the episode, but I liked it. The family was much more normal and likeable, even the dad. They toned all the jerkiness out of everyone and it was more what I had hoped for in the first place--colonists dealing with the the incredible environment they were now living in. If they can stay on that path they'll be alright.

Testing a Maze

2011-10-07T03:55:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge

Just fooling around...

Literary Rebus

2011-10-07T03:29:00.001-07:00

Cryptogram for the Cryptic

2011-10-07T03:18:00.000-07:00

TWSPS ZSJ JUSPUWNM HR ULN ANUSWWBT TWSEO SJ ULN WYTO YE LNP TNWW MYYP UKPENM.

iPad @ the LIbrary

2011-10-04T12:46:00.001-07:00

This isn't us! But off to the wilds of Wisconsin with you if you'd like to borrow a loaded iPad:http://mashable.com/2011/09/23/library-ipad/

Incorrect Email Distribution

2011-10-02T03:37:00.000-07:00

On September 29th, you received two emails regarding the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Game Testing Program. These emails were sent to you by mistake. This was due to an internal error and not the result of hacking or malware. Please be assured that no personal information was compromised. We are sorry for any confusion this may have caused. Please note that receipt of these e-mails does not affect your chances to be invited to test the game at a later date.

Between now and launch, we will be conducting additional large scale Beta Testing Weekends where we will be inviting more people than ever before. Additionally we will be releasing even more information about the game as we gear up for launch in December. If you haven't signed up for game testing yet, you can still do so at www.swtor.com/tester.

Thank you for your understanding,
The Star Wars: The Old Republic team.

....at least they still have my name on file :)

This will be me...

2011-10-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

No sub today with two back to back programs for families (and no lunch time for us in sight) and tomorrow afternoon four hours with no sub and just ever punier from chemo me. Somewhere the library gods are laughing...

TVNotes

2011-09-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'm behind on my new season viewing notes, so here they are in brief:

Dancing with the Stars

I fell asleep zzzzz through the last few dances and missed the Nip Slip. I was more disappointed to see the worst dancers of the night who really stumbled and lost step and somebody even stopped and paused a couple of times to find their place and zero marks were taken off for any of them. Are the judges just being kind to them or something so they don't give up?

This week the worst dancer was Chaz, who was in such pain he could hardly dance. David Arquette was next worst, with a terribly frenetic dance, even worse than last week, with lots of missteps. Elisabetta Canalis really could not keep up with the quick foot work, and though the judges let her sail, she was low personage on the dance pole and was booted.

Survivor South Pacific

Mikayla tried to go head to head with Brandon to see what his problem was, and he was all offended as if she had come out of nowhere with these accusations, doh. He's gotta go.

Sad to see Papa Bear go, Cochrane is next, no question. Dawn did shockingly well in the Immunity Challenge. Good for her. Semhar was beaten in a balancing contest with Christine, after preparing for the challenge with a wierd and rambling poem sort of thing.

Person of Interest

James Caviezel's Reese character seems to be enjoying his role of savior/vigilante and he is super good at it. I think he is attempting to warm up to Finch's character a bit, but Finch is very self protective and will have none of it.

It was revealed that Finch has a partner of sorts who helps ? with the research and takes credit for everything, but he had no idea quite what Finch has been up to in the background. Finch also mentioned that there are 8 people who know about the project in the world. Now we know three of them.

Nicely plotted episode about a teenage girl who comes up as the Person of Interest for the week, though she has been legally dead for two years.

Terra Nova

The new series features time travel, dinosaurs and some mysteries. I think that the device of having the colony in an alternate time stream and thus avoiding paradox is a bit cheap. The show had lots of action. Characters are a bit steely jawed.

I really fought dislike of the family at the forefront all through the episode, though by the end I merely disliked the dad and the son, a couple of jerky hot heads. I'll watch another episode, but the characters will have to be more likeable going forward.

Scott Westerfeld at Red Balloon

2011-09-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

I made a rare venture out on a Friday evening to join the crowd at Red Balloon Bookstore in St Paul.

Author Scott Westerfeld gave a talk on the history behind his Leviathan stories, showing illustrations from the book and talking about illustrated books generally.

He'd show a picture such as this

and talk about the back and forth conversation between himself and illustrator Keith Thompson about what was in the picture and how it reflected or didn't what was going on in the story or what might be happening next.

I always assumed that the author would just write the tale and the illustrator would go back and illustrate scenes of interest. I wouldn't have guessed the level of storytelling collaboration involved. Fascinating process!

Scott is meeting soon with the folks at Wizards of the Coast to produce a Steampunk card game. The crowd was very interested!

He is also meeting with a company in Los Angeles about the effects for transforming faces and figures for an Uglies movie.

Great things ahead.

Ye Bookish Rebus

2011-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

I hate to feed the Rebus fan beast, but why not? Here is a book title and its author, rebus-ized.

Answer: City of Orphans by Avi

Person of Interest (Premier)

2011-09-23T03:55:00.000-07:00

The new show Person of Interest premiered last night.

It's a mystery series with a few twists. Our heroes are:

John Reese (Jim Caviezel) a former special agent who is presumed dead when he is found by Mr Finch (Michael Emerson), a brainy man with a conscience.

Tracking Reese is Detective Carter (Taraji P. Henderson) once he becomes a Person of Interest to her. Reese seems to be wanted for a wide variety of crimes nationwide and she means to find him.

Hapless Detective Fusco (Kevin Chapman) is snared as a accomplice for Reese. A good man with no good options.

Finch created a vast surveillance network after September 2011 for the government which would look daily through many portals of information from emails to traffic light cameras for any Persons of Interest who might involved in terrorist activities. Information is run daily and all Irrelevant (not terror likely) information is wiped at midnight.

The Irrelevants, however, are identified by the program as being likely to commit or have a crime committed against them. Finch is no longer working on the project, but he created a backdoor to the information, and he gets lists of those most likely to be involved in a large crime or incident which might be prevented if he can get to them in time. He cannot tell who is perpetrator and who is victim, so asks Reese to track the Person of Interest with ace spy skills, and stop whatever is going to happen.

There were plenty of plot twists in the pilot. Surprisingly both Reese and Finch came across as very likeable and somewhat vulnerable.

Person of Interest Wiki

Survivor (Somewhere in the South Pacific with a bunch of boneheads)

2011-09-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

The bloom is off the rose, and the larger personalities are moving to the fore and yikes.

Top of the line is Lil' Russ (aka Brandon, nephew of Big Russ Hantz). He spills his Hantz beans to Coach, who rather graciously accepts the presence of a blood relative to one of his greatest foes. Silly Coach. Then Brandon continues to go gaga over Mikayla and he tries to get her voted out so that he isn't tempted by her anymore. I honestly don't think she particularly noted his existence until he revealed this at tribal. Now that she's going to be looking at him and noticing his uncanny oogling, I think she'll tell him off and maybe he'll settle down when he realizes he is beyond puny in her eyes. Yech.

One of my early hopefuls Stacey was hardly featured at all, plus she was in a one woman alliance with the evil (and booted to Redemption Island) Christine.

Christine has to be one of the most arrogantly stupid players on Survivor in ages. What on earth made her play? Now poor Semhar will be plagued by her, if briefly. Hope Semhar whoops her. Somehow.

Cochran is a lovable but entirely goofy player and I think he'll get booted pretty quick.

I thought it was rather sick to put the Immunity Idol up in a treescape that only Ozzy the Monkey would get to with ease. Let's hope he has the wit to use it this time if he needs it.

Draw a Stickman, Have an Adventure

2011-09-23T03:29:00.000-07:00

Sure you can Draw a Stickman! With the help of this animated site, you can also draw a few other things while channeling your inner Harold and the Purple Crayon!

DWTS: the Draggy-Leg Awards

2011-09-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

We used to call Lara Croft draggy-leg when she wouldn't make jumps for us in Tomb Raider. Poor Lara. In last night's Dancing with the Stars three contenders stood out for failure to gracefully navigate the dance floor. They were stiff, awkward, and bumbling.

David Arquette really lost his way.

Rob Kardashian stiff as if before a firing squad, with totally obnoxious family members cheering him on. Keep the kid, remove the family.

Elisabetta Canalis looked like she expected the floor to drop away from beneath her.

Posted from ye iPad.

Star Wars Galaxies: The Final Adventures

2011-09-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

I was going to let my Galaxies access go, but at this, the eleventh hour I resubscribed so I'll be there for the last months till the game closes in December. In at the beginning, in at the end.

This was my first online game, and it has always provided the most thrilling experiences I've had in online games, plus it is a world you can live and work happily in. The people I've met in Galaxies have been the most like me that I've come across, and that is something.

So a few more adventures, repair my homes and vendors and get things ready for the last days of the most immersive world ever created.

Survivor: South Pacific

2011-09-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

South Pacific? Pretty vague. In any case the season is off to a good start with lots of interesting characters.

If you thought Coach and Ozzy would be tossed off asap, you'd be wrong. They are both serving rather well as councillors to their tribes, helping everyone get their footing with the reality that is sleeping on cushy bamboo, with crawling bugs, no food, no water.

I am always fascinated by how quickly the thin veneer of civilisation peels away from contestants, and people are revealed for who they are, whether they mean to be or not.

My favorites this season are Papa Bear, the ex-cop; Cochran, the Harvard 100 pound weakling who knows the show inside and out; Mikayla, the girl who can Do Everything; Semhar, the exotically beautiful Spoken Word Artist who is a definite fish out of water and was voted out first; and Stacey the mom who has her eyes and ears out watching for misbehavior from everyone.

Villains of the piece are Brandon who I am calling Lil' Russ because he is Russell's nephew through and through despite his protests of being like Russell; Jim for being a jerk to everyone; Christine for thinking she is smarter than everyone and that she can find the immunity idol and run everything without spending a moment trying to play a social game.

The others are a bit blah at this time.

Television Without Pity

2011-09-14T03:13:00.000-07:00

I found this site recently. It sort of mercilously discusses television shows, has reviews, and forums wherein people happily trash their favorite shows.

The forums I read are the Reality How to and Reality Competitive ones, where readers trash House Hunters, if you can imagine. I haven't read back far enough, but it seems the show is a set up in many ways, and often when you see the show, your House Hunters have already purchased one of the properties and are living there. They'll clear out the house and go back and film the HH's "choosing". I wish I could say this spoils the show for me, but since I use HGTV as white noise to nap in front of more often than not, I'm just sort of amused by it.

I have liked the posts in the competitive forums on Design Star, a pretty mild competition, so I'm hoping they pull out the stops on the Survivor and Dancing With the Stars forums.

If there are any new shows you're interested in (and so far I haven't seen anything on new fall season shows that interests me) you may want to visit Television Without Pity for some raucous opinions of the show.

Design Star: Meg Wins

2011-09-13T03:41:00.000-07:00

In the last episode, Meg won. Her room was better and her camera persentation was spot on so she did deserve the win. I 'd rather it were Karl but he was too awkward for the camera, he was giggling nervously again, and his room was just meh.

However, as much as the panel said they loved loved loved everything about Meg's Design Crimes pseudo episode, she gets a new series with the unbelievably bland name: Great Rooms. Way to feature her personality, HGTV.

GameNotes: Fly You High, Overlander

2011-09-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my little sister I completed the outstanding quests in no time in the Peninsula.

She kindly bought me an Ebon Griffin and it makes things incredibly easy when you can just fly point to point. She plays all the time and is also 10 levels up on me now, so she's a powerhouse to have at my side.

I told her I'd help her with the quests she is stuck on somewhere far far away from Zangarmarsh. She led the way over some really strange spiky terrain where we had to fly really high, and at one point when she said "fly high, bad guys!" (big flying creatures) I wanted to respond "Fly you high, Overlander!" but I knew she wouldn't know the reference from Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. It's one thing to read about daring flights, quite another to take one.

Here we are safely landed in some Gnome area. There is something wildly cheerful about the Gnomes and their machines and the music that plays, especially after slogging through deep dark areas. I hope my puny level 62 can be of help to her.

GameNotes: Return to Hellfire Peninsula

2011-09-10T03:13:00.000-07:00

I killed off my Games Blog in July and haven't written or played anything since. Part of my normal life is games, how I do love to step out of this world not just in my imagination, but in a virtual way. In an effort to get some normalcy into my now abnormal life, we present GameNotes, wherein I talk, ta da, about games.

When we last saw our heroine Merlinne the dwarven Huntress and her faithful hound Goldilocks, they were slogging through Zangarmarsh. I reached a spot and found my quest log is full, so I decided to backtrack to the dread Hellfire Peninsula, the opening area of Outland. I was getting my dwarven self kicked by the really nasty stuff in the Peninsula, even with occasional help from my sister or son, so I had moved forward to the weenie Zangarmarsh area.

I am a completist, though, so I'm going to find a way to get the quests in the Peninsula done if it kills me, and it will. You can see from the map how many places I have left in this area where I can meet my demise. At least in the game world, your demise is only temporary. Very cheering.

Dancing with the Stars

2011-09-03T04:42:00.000-07:00

A new season awaits! I was happy with the outcome of last season, so in we go to the new season ready for tripping the light fantastic action :)

I am unfamiliar with pretty much everyone on the guest list this time out, so I'm glad for the continuity that the professional dancers and judges bring to the show.

The controversy over Chaz Bono is just silly. For God's sake, the man is there to dance just like everyone else. Cheer him on or don't, but don't be all whiny about anything that doesn't have to do with his ability to glide across the dance floor.

Instead, dream on as the lights go down and the music swells and you picture yourself gliding effortlessly across the floor, wowing the nation in the arms of your favorite pro...sigh.

posted from ye dingly iPad, D.O.A.

Survivor Rules for Contestants...surprise! Don't Be a Bozo ISN'T one of them!

2011-09-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

Every season I secretly think I'd like to be on Survivor, and my husband always says "You should apply!" Now that I'm a glow in the dark chemo skellie, niether of us think I could Survive it. Would be hilarious to watch briefly.

So while we're all fantasizing about being on the show, here is what you can bring with you, how you should behave, etc.:

WHAT DO I BRING?

Everyone's first question! So here's the info. Basically you're going to have two bags... your "Game" bag (which is a small bag or small backpack) and your "Non-Game" bag (Big as you like... well, within reason!). Details below:

Your "Game Bag" comes with you into the game and you keep it with you at all times.

YOU MUST BRING WITH YOU INTO THE GAME (This is what your "Game" bag should contain):
• sunscreen
• your own medications that you take regularly (and feminine hygiene products if you are a girl)
• Clothes: 2 shirts- one long or short sleeve(depending on the weather), one short sleeve (wear one, put one in your bag), a jacket or hoodie, a hat, one pair of shorts and one pair of pants (wear one, put one in your bag), an extra pair of socks, an extra set of underwear, bathing suit (optional, it's your call. Some of the challenges might involve getting wet), pair of gloves (optional, sometimes it's cold when we play).
• ALL SURVIVORS MUST BRING a large water bottle with your name clearly marked on it

YOU MAY BRING INTO THE GAME ONE LUXURY ITEM IN YOUR GAME BAG.
LUXURY ITEMS INCLUDE:
• Journal & pen/pencil (This is the smart thing to bring. It's most likely to help you in the game)
• Book to read
• Playing cards

YOU CANNOT BRING INTO THE GAME (Don't put these in your Game Bag. You can have them in your non-Game Bag though):
• cell phones
• gum/food
• watches

IF YOU ARE VOTED OUT YOU MAY HAVE (This is what your "Non-Game" Bag should contain):
• A large zip-loc bag with any personal hygiene items (toothbrush, etc.), medicine, etc. that should be clearly marked with your name. You may not take this into the game but we will return it to you if you are voted out so that you may have it with you for the duration remaining.
• pillow, blanket, sleeping bag CLEARLY marked with your name and in a separate bag.
• food/gum
• extra clothes
• movies/books (We have a DVD player so bring your favorite films to share)
• games
• cell phones
• watches
• toothbrush/hairbrush etc.

*PLEASE do NOT bring ANY items of a valuable nature. We are not responsible for lost items. Upon arrival if you have a wallet or cell phone, Etc. place it into your zip-loc bag and we will hang onto it in a secure location.

WHAT IF I GET VOTED OFF?

If you are voted off early in the game you will be put to work on the crew setting up challenges and lots more. Also you'll be much more comfy than the people still playing! Think of a giant really fun slumber party. If you are voted off later, you will part of the Jury. More on that in the RULES section.

HOW DO YOU PLAY?

Ever watch Survivor on TV? It's JUST like that. Seriously. Except we squish it all down into just a few days. You'll be really tired when you're done but it's the most fun thing EVER! Warning: people who play Survivor become obsessed with it! Your family and friends will be sick of you talking about it afterwards.

WILL WE BE FILMED LIKE ON TV?

Indeed you will! More on that in the rules section.

ARE THERE RULES?

SO glad you asked! Here's the Official Rules section. It's VERY important that you read and understand the rules because we want everyone to know that they will be safe and that things will be as fair as we can make them. You will be signing a contract agreeing to play by these rules when you arrive for check-in so read them!

STL: SURVIVOR RULES

Please carefully read ALL the rules of STL Survivor. You will be expected to follow these rules. We will ask you to sign a contract prior to the start of the game to ensure that you have read and understand the rules and that you agree to follow them. If you do not, you may be removed from the game at the Producers’ discretion.

The EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS of Survivor:
Skye (Jeff Probst)
Chris

Their word is LAW.

HOW THE CAMERA CREWS WILL AFFECT YOU:

• The camera crews will be taping challenges, conversations, confessionals, tribal councils, etc. Just ignore the cameras and speak freely. Nothing you say will be revealed to another player.

• Periodically, a crewmember will pull you aside for a confessional. You may discuss anything that’s on your mind at the time. Please answer openly any questions you are asked.This is your chance to dish!

• You may request a confessional if you have something urgent to get off your chest. The crew will do its best to accommodate you but please be aware that due to the production/challenge schedule there may be times when we are unable to immediately honor your request. We will get to you as soon as possible however.

• You may speak freely to any producer/crew member without fear that it will get back to anyone in the game. Please be candid and open during your taped confessionals.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• OFF LIMITS AREAS – Will be clearly marked. Obviously, they are off-limits. Seriously. We mean it.

• FOOD- You will be asked to bring in a specific food item to stock our food pantry. PLEASE bring your food items. We don’t want Survivors resorting to cannibalism. That is frowned upon in most societies.

• MEDICAL ISSUES- We will always have a first aid kit standing by to treat minor injuries that may arise with conventional bandages, gauze, alcohol wipes, and liquid bandages. If your injury/illness is considered severe, you will be removed from the game and given treatment. What constitutes being severe enough to be removed from the game? Here is the rule: If you are able to be treated right there either at the challenge or in your camp to the producers’ satisfaction, you will remain in the game. If the illness/injury warrants us bringing you into Command Central to treat you, if you need to be provided with food in order to be well enough to continue, or you need outside medical attention such as stitches you will be removed from the game in order to receive the attention you need. We will make every effort to ensure that you remain in the game; however we must put your safety and well-being first.

DURING THE GAME:

• TREE MAIL – You will receive important notices about upcoming events via tree mail. Each team will have its own tree mail basket.

• CHALLENGES- Expect a wide variety of challenges. Some physical, some mental, some endurance, many a combination of these. You will get dirty, wet, sticky, and probably worse. Plan your clothing accordingly. Give everything your best shot! You never know what you may be a star at. In the case of a close finish, the producers will discuss amongst themselves what each of them saw and come to a decision. The producers’ word is final.

• TRIBAL COUNCIL – Tribes will be voting members off during tribal council. You may NOT vote for yourself. You MUST vote. In the event of a tie, there will be a re-vote. The two players who tied will be the only ones you may vote for. Those two players will not vote. If the re-vote ends in a tie, we will declare a deadlock. Deadlock rules will be in effect. Deadlock rules are different every time we play, so we’ll let that be a surprise.

Please respect the sanctity of tribal council. Someone will be leaving the game forever, so please don’t use this as a time to discuss High School Musical 3. You MUST wait for Jeff to call upon you before you speak. Let the drama play out!

Also, be straight with your answers in Tribal Council. If you're evasive or refuse to answer, it's likely that you will be ignored by Jeff in subsequent Tribal Councils. No one likes to be ignored! So speak up and give us some dirt!

• YOUR BAG – You will keep all your belongings that you may take into the game with you inside your bag. You’ll bring your bag and everything in it to ALL challenges and ALL Tribal Councils. PLEASE take special care during challenges to have everything securely inside your bag. You never know when a shoeless hobo will think there are free shoes lying around. I'm not kidding. Just ask Tom.

• BUFFS- Please turn in your buffs at the end of the game. We will use them again for the next Survivor. (After we wash them of course... EWWW!)

• RULEBREAKING- Will have consequences. (Dun dun DUNNNNN)

IF YOU ARE VOTED OUT:

• At no time may anyone who has been voted out of the game have any contact with anyone still in the game unless at the express direction of the executive producers. This includes but is not limited to: talking to them, sneaking them food or information, influencing them in any way, asking them about their plans or future votes, etc. Your actions may result in that player being ejected from the game and you being sent home.

• When you are voted off you must bring Jeff your torch, take your things and leave the tribal council area immediately. A crew member will escort you to an area where you will make your final confessional. (We will give you a little while to compose yourself if necessary.)

• If you are voted off before the jury begins you will move into the “Ponderosa” where you will have access to all your personal belongings, food, a TV/DVD player, and relative comfort. You WILL be asked by the producers to assist with the game so be ready.

• If you are voted off AFTER the Jury begins, you will become a part of the Jury and move into Jury Sequester where you will have access to all your personal belongings, food, a TV/DVD player, and relative comfort. The Jury will have specific duties and rules as listed below.

THE JURY – Any Juror who breaks these rules will be removed from the Jury immediately.

• If you make it to the jury you will be sequestered in the jury room with other jury members. For this reason, we suggest that you bring books, games, etc. to help pass the time.

• The jury will attend all tribal councils. During tribal council the jury may NOT interact with the players still in the game. You may not speak to them and they may not speak to you. You are there only to observe and to gather information that you will use to make your final decision.

• Jury members MAY NOT discuss or deliberate about the players still in the game. Jurors may not reveal to any other juror who they plan to vote for. Jurors may not attempt to persuade or influence other jurors to vote a certain way. Please do not talk about the game, but instead make your own decisions.

• During the Final Tribal Council, each Juror will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Final players. That will be your only opportunity to speak during Tribal Council.

• Jurors MAY NOT talk while the final voting is going on.

FINAL TRIBAL COUNCIL

• Family and friends are invited to join us for the final tribal council and announcement of the winner. We are anticipating that this will occur at around 8:30pm on the final day. Please tell your family and friends that due to the unpredictable nature of the game that it is possible that we could be running a little late so please be prepared if that should happen. We will try to entertain them until tribal begins.

Cameras are welcome!

Survivor: Coach and Ozzy

2011-08-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

Yeeks why they keep bringing back these repugnos, I don't know. Maybe once they get through their vast villain list they'll send Ethan or somebody cool back in. Can you imagine getting Coach on your team? Painful. At least Ozzy is a great competitor.

Survivor Official site with cast, crew, etc click here.

Design Star: Who should win?

2011-08-29T03:46:00.000-07:00

I'm rooting Karl, then Meg, then Mark, Kellie last. Karl has the most talent and personality. He's like like nobody else. Has a few wild edges, but he's kept them mostly filed down. Go Karl go.

Design Star: Monster Out!

2011-08-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

I keep saying I won't watch each new season of Design Star because it seems very "rigged" to favor the judges selection, and I miss Clive Pearse as host.

Of course I'm pinned to the the show Monday nights. This season featured (past tense!!!!! yay) the meanest contestant ever, maybe anywhere Cathy Hobbs! She just was so mean and bullying to everyone she worked with, it was painful to watch her.

Thanks for finally knocking her out, judges.

From watching several seasons, I'm going to say the judges are setting up contestant Mark Diaz as the winner. We shall see.

Back to the fan vote, and boo hiss on calling Candace Olson who never appears, a show judge at all. Fine if they want to bring in guests, which has been fun, but the whole "she's busy busy busy filming her show" bah.

Pink Elephants on Parade

2011-08-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

In case yesterday's post got this song in your head, here's the video to go with it:

Ye Elephant

2011-08-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I don't write because I have nothing to say, sometimes I don't write because I don't want to say publicly what I have to say.

In my current case, I've decided to get the Elephant out of the back of the room and then go on from there.

My elephant is represented by Dumbo because I'm stoopid and have not taken care of my medical self for a long time. Doing that can result in suprises such as stage four cancer, which has kept me busy and in varous bizarro machines since the beginning of July, it seems.

This will not become a cancer journal, I have a place for that, but when I talk about the joys of reading more and playing DS Lite Games that I haven't taken the time to play, but now I'm sitting around in doctor's waiting rooms la la la and I can help you with some good distractions, I really can.

I am the mistress of How Not to Think About Whatever It Is I Don't Want to Think About. Distraction R Me.

There we go, you me and Dumbo, that sweet lil elephant can move forward.

BookNotes: The Wild Hog Murders by Bill Crider

2011-08-05T05:25:00.000-07:00

In the 18th Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery, our hero deals with Blacklin County literally gone hog wild. Wild hogs tear through farms and open forest country as the hogs breed wildly.

Hunters who seek to drop the population become involved in murder, possible bank robbery, and the ruinous results of piggie lust.

The sheriff is a seemingly laconic individual. While everyone around him spouts theories and solutions and demands for justice, he follows his leads, talks to his suspects and potential witnesses, weighing their evidence carefully and always coming to the correct conclusion.

I love the laid back humor in these books, the wise guy attitude of just about everyone, and the promise that justice will always be served sunny side up, with a big side of feral hog.

Some great reading:

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2011/07/wild-hog-murders-by-bill-crider.html

http://mybookthemovie.blogspot.com/2011/07/bill-criders-wild-hog-murders.html

http://www.billcrider.com/

http://billcrider.blogspot.com/

Philip Pullman from the Guardian on Why we must stand up to the Book Barbarians.

2011-07-25T04:08:00.001-07:00

I like his books, and I love anyone who comes up with a phrase like Book Barbarians. Arrggh!

BookNotes: An Altar by the River by Christine Husom

2011-07-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

When I began this book, I had two things that Christine said about it in mind: that is a chilling tale and that she knows where the altar is, she has seen it. She said that her books except for the upcoming 4th volume were based on true crimes.

When the story opened with a man fearing his brother was heading to Winnebago County to an undisclosed location for a Satanic Ritual in which he planned to sacrifice himself, I thought hmmm, this is sort of far fetched. Looking at old news reports though, there was a case in Minnesota in 1983 (about the time I came back to live in Minnesota from years in the eastern wilds). Unfortunately, based on real information indeed.

It became disturbingly believable that an age old cult would have members hidden among ordinary folk in society. They could have members in useful professions such as medicine, funeral services and police forces who would help keep their activities secret and successful.

One of the most appealing things about this mystery series are Sergeant Aleckson's family and friends and co-workers. Over the course of the three novels these people have become familiar and a wonderful solid support system for Corrine.

An Altar by the River puts a doubt in the reader's mind as to who can be trusted and who might be completely evil. The weaving of familiarity and safety written into the three novels is shattered as the investigations go on and it is clear someone very close cannot be trusted.

I highly recommend the series, and you should read them in sequence since each picks up right where the last left off. Characters including the villains do not go away but they have resounding effects on the lives of their victims and the police officers who put their lives on the line to make life safer for all of us.

BookNotes: Buried in Wolf Lake by Christine Husom

2011-07-22T03:26:00.000-07:00

I always drag my hooves writing "reviews" because I want them to be done just so. So I never write them. Clever! Let me try doing a BookNote (short thoughts on the book)on my fine reading and see if I can overcome my internal editor.

Buried in Wolf Lake is the second book in Husom's Winnebago County series featuring Sergeant Corrine "Corky" Aleckson.

The books tend to feature a big scary crime and the resolution of that crime involves classic detective work and police procedure. There is something about the way Christine writes that makes you feel like you're riding along in Corky's car to the crime scene. It is so easy to picture everything.

Buried in Wolf Lake features a golden retriever bringing his mistress a human leg. The police arrive and have the grisly task of methodically securing the scene and attempting to dredge a shallow muddy lake for the other pieces. I'll always have this image of a perfect solo leg being shaded by it's own little jury-rigged tent to protect it from the sun while the search goes on.

Based on an actual crime that has never been resolved, Buried in Wolf Lake brings the reader into the mind of a person who would commit such a crime.

She also does a fantastic job of showing the impact of dealing with such grim crime on the police who must try to find the killer.

Christine on the web.

David Baldacci talks with the BBC on crime writing

2011-07-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

A video interview with suspense author David Baldacci. Quite the affable guy, eh?

Dream Team

2011-07-20T03:41:00.000-07:00

Gaming site Massively had a post this week asking what your developer dream team would be for an MMO. I didn't have time to reply and now I can't find the post, but the concept has stayed in my tiny mind so here is the team I would assemble if I ran the Zoo, including everyone who I think would make the virtual world unimaginably PERFECT.

Raph Koster
Richard Bartle
Todd Howard
Emil Pagliarulo
Jane Jensen
Roberta Williams
Matt "Scenario" Elliot
Toby Gard
John Carmack
Ron Gilbert
Ken Levine
Tim Schafer
Warren Spector
Steve Danuser
Matt Firor

My community management team:

Diane Tiggs Migliaccio
Kevin O'Hara
Callendryl

Ta da.

Mysterious Bookshop Bibliomysteries

2011-07-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

The Mysterious Bookshop in New York has a wonderful blog which I've added on the side. Their current post is a list of Bibliomysteries, mysteries involving books, or anything book related that the shop has for sale. Just the thing for reading in some cool spot on these hot summer days. The book below is not on the list but I thought it fit somehow...

Downsizing Librarians Means No Bananas For You

2011-07-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

Can't get the whole monkey thing out of my head, lol. Ooooo oooooo.

Literature Map

2011-07-07T03:47:00.000-07:00

Supposedly, the Literature Map lets you pick an author you like and then it does the "cloud thing" and puts up other authors who write like your author.

This could give you a new set of authors to try, or not. Theoretically, the closer in proximity the author name is to your desired author, the more like your author they are.

I tried Douglas Adams, the favorite of my husband the Impossible Reader's Advisory Subject. So hard to figure out what he would read or not. Every technique I have for finding him new authors has failed. If I do find a new one, he'll often read a book or two and then not like them anymore, mysteriously. Agh, I say agh.

Anywho, Anne Rice is closest to Douglas Adams on the Literature Map!!!! Dept of Triple DOH, why did I NEVER think of her?

Click to Enlarge

What happens when you try to turn a librarian into...something else

2011-07-06T03:46:00.000-07:00

Cryptogram Answer..oops!

2011-07-02T05:44:00.000-07:00

The answer for this weeks's cryptogram is:

MIGNIGHT CAME AND WENT WITH ONLY THE QUIET BUZZ OF MEAGER TRAFFIC ALONG THE BEACH.

CFLKFLOY EQCP QKS HPKY HFYO DKJW YOP UBFPY VBII DG CPQLPX YXQGGFE QJDKL YOP VPQEO.

When you dare by Lori Foster

Ouch! The typo I didn't see made my husband bonkers, sorry about that. I thought the cryptogram machine had failed me but no...apologies to anyone else who was stumped!

Minnesota Turns out the Lights of Government

2011-07-01T03:29:00.001-07:00

I don't remember the government shutdown of 2005 at all. It lasted eight days.

With the rancor and positioning and downright ugliness surrounding this one, I know I'll remember it well. I think we all will.

What is that curse about living in interesting times?

Cryptogram Time

2011-06-30T03:28:00.000-07:00

So noone goes into cryptogram withdrawl, here is one for today (answer on Saturday)

CFLKFLOY EQCP QKS HPKY HFYO DKJW YOP UBFPY VBII DG CPQLPX YXQGGFE QJDKL YOP VPQEO.

Kiss Me Baby, I Can Swim...

2011-06-29T03:12:00.001-07:00

One of my sisters used to say that all of the time to her kids. This fish, via the Presurfer Blog is perfect for that one. And don't let anyone call you fishlips....

Murder in Winnebago County by Christine Husom

2011-06-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty excited to meet the author of Murder in Winnebago County tonight!

Winnebago County is a fictional Minnesota County. I appreciate Minnesota authors and the vivid local settings the more I read them. Christine's story could be set just down the street, if I lived in a more rural area.

Murder in Winnebago County is a tale of revenge, madness and the sort of ugly secrets so many people apparently carry just beneath the surface of their busy lives.

Anyone who likes police procedurals will enjoy the book, you feel like you're right there with officer Corrine. Though not a detective she has the instincts, logic and an incredibly keen eye for human nature and character. As the series progresses, if she makes investigator, look out bad guys.

I loved the backstory for the main character, she is so well fleshed out, and her family and friends are not stock characters, but they sound as if she is lovingly describing people she knows.

The next two books in the series are Buried in Wolf Lake and An Altar by the River. I hoping to snap up copies of those tonight.

A romance note: pick Smoke, dump slimy Nick.

Ye Rebus Answer

2011-06-26T19:19:00.001-07:00

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road.
Henry Ward Beecher

10,000

2011-06-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Ha ha, the Blogger from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and a variety of puddles (really alot of rain this week) has finally reached 10,000 views on my site meter. Since this is the second or so meter, and the first one just stopped counting, I say it is legit, and ta da. That is all.

The Secret World

2011-06-23T04:49:00.000-07:00

This game is being developed by Funcom, who do Age of Conan, but this seems to be a very interesting combination of puzzle and adventure and who knows what?

The Secret World, making the world blog post with developer Joel Bylos.

Crytogram Answer

2011-06-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

DPS XBYAR JBHTA’V UBMBQCYM VNEQD VJEQMSF PERP EA DPS TEQ TV VPS VWYA DPQBYRP DPS EADQEUTDS VDSWV BC DPS FTAUS, QSOSTMEAR MEDPS, HYVUYMTQ LQBJA MSRV.

The young woman’s colorful skirt swirled high in the air as she spun through the intricate steps of the dance, revealing lithe, muscular brown legs.

From Longarm and the Bloody Relic by Tabor Evans (Number 390 in the long running series.)

Rebus Day at D.O.A.

2011-06-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a charming quote:

Click to Enlarge

Answer on Sunday 6/26

The Art of the Adventures of Tintin from Weta Workshop

2011-06-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this sound wonderful, even if I haven't read the TinTin books, I know I'm going to like the film. Adults and kids have come into the library for years trying to track down the series to read and re-read.

The D.O.A. Files: Library Roll-Play

2011-06-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

Even in a place where most things can be borrowed for free, some things JUST DISAPPEAR, causing problems for everyone who deals with these unexpected losses.

Click to Enlarge

Today's Cryptogram

2011-06-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

Here is an example of a longer cryptogram. Much easier, right?

DPS XBYAR JBHTA’V UBMBQCYM VNEQD VJEQMSF PERP EA DPS TEQ TV VPS VWYA DPQBYRP DPS EADQEUTDS VDSWV BC DPS FTAUS, QSOSTMEAR MEDPS, HYVUYMTQ LQBJA MSRV.

Answer on Thursday the 23rd.

Saturday's Cryptogram Answer

2011-06-21T03:01:00.000-07:00

The Cryptogram and answer:

TZ QOG OKVZPDW EOR FTND ZPD YVWKTKS VL ZPD QVWFE.

IT WAS ANOTHER DAY LIKE THE MORNING OF THE WORLD.

From Death of a Perfect Wife by M.C. Beaton

Galaxy Project Writing Contest

2011-06-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

Via Robert J. Sawyer on FB, a writing contest to bring the imagination filled tales from Galaxy Magazine into the 21st Century.

Submit a 15-20k novella or novelette to the Galaxy Project Contest by September 2, 2011. Fortune and Glory.

Muppet Domination Indeed

2011-06-20T19:43:00.001-07:00

Character Name Generators

2011-06-20T03:39:00.000-07:00

Whether you're writing a story or creating a character for other nefarious purposes, sometimes you can't think of just the right name.

This is where Character Name Generators come in handy. They will give you random name selections or allow you to make some choices or adaptations to generated names. All you need to do is click and you're off on a new adventure.

Seventh Sanctum

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/index-name.php

Dungeons and Dragons Character Name Generator

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20010208b

Behind the Name Random Name Generator

http://www.behindthename.com/random/

Fictional Character Name Generator

http://www.jimwegryn.com/Names/FictionNames.htm

ASR Klingon Character Name Generator

http://www.alt-starfleet-rpg.org/misc/klingonnamegen.html

Generator Land Character Name Generator with personality, occupation and hometown

http://www.generatorland.com/glgenerator.aspx?id=44&rlx=y

PANDA WOW Name Generator

http://wow.wolfdragon.net/panda-wow-name-generator/

Character Name Generator
For your D&D, fantasy, or sci-fi roleplaying character.

http://www.dilloscape.com/generatorz/cng.htm

Quizopolis Halloween Character Name Generator (this site site has other themes too.)

http://www.quizopolis.com/halloween-character-name-generator.php

All the Fantasy Name Links

http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/names/fantasylinks.htm

Chris Pound’s Language Machines

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/

Voidstate’s Exalted name Generator

http://www.voidstate.com/name_generator/

Wordlab's Character Name Generator

http://www.wordlab.com/name-generators/character-name-generator/

Short Story Ideas Character Generator

http://shortstoryideas.herb.me.uk/characters.htm

SquidOrgs RPG Random Generator

http://www.squid.org/tools/random/index.php

More fun with First Lines at "Hey there's a Dead Guy in the Living Room"

2011-06-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

Serendipity! Over at Hey there's a Dead Guy in the Living Room, Robin Agnew is also thinking about the charm and appeal of First Lines. There is a contest to guess which books the list of posted first lines is from.

Sharpen those tacky brains and try to guess them!

First Lines Cryptograms

2011-06-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

I had the scathingly brilliant idea yesterday to do a series of Cryptograms from first lines of books that came across my desk.

Cryptograms substitute letters of the alphabet in a phrase or sentence and they're in a sort of code. I'm not clever enough by far to make up my own codes, so I'm using several sites which allow me to make cryptograms from my first lines. So, I'll post the cryptographically altered first line today and will post the title and author of the book on Tuesday the 21st. Two days is plenty to solve it, right?

Lots more where this came from, so consider it that rare thing here at D.O.A. Central, a Regular Feature.

The Cryptogram:

TZ QOG OKVZPDW EOR FTND ZPD YVWKTKS VL ZPD QVWFE.

To get started, write out the alphabet on a piece of paper and look for recurring letters in the sentence, and make educated guesses as to what they might be. Then ponder what makes sense in an English sentence for the rest of the words. As I was looking for first lines and reading about Cryptograms, I found that longer sentences work well because you have more recurring letters, and that first lines of dialogue or with alot of proper names don't work well. I know this one is short, but it was the one that triggered the idea and I just plain liked the sound of the sentence.

Exit Stage Right...Door

2011-06-17T04:22:00.000-07:00

I'm getting acclimated to my new spot in the BIG LIBRARY. Still, when the alarm went off for an

EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR

I knew right away what it was, but Dept.of Oops, I didn't know where the offending door was. Nevertheless, like a tracker dog my beagles would be proud of, I followed the klaxon noise and the shrieks of the child who had opened the door (they are always sooo surprised at the loud noise) and was able to restore order.

Later on in the day when it went off again, I was farther away and others restored peace but hey hey, I could have walked right to that dang door if need be.

The Horn Book Awards

2011-06-16T04:03:00.000-07:00

Just in time for summer recommended reading, the Boston Globe -Horn Book Awards for children have been announced.

They are a nice mix of fiction and non-fiction, picture books and chapter books.

I note the book Chime by Frannie Billingsly on the honor book list-highly recommended by my co-workers but unread by me so far.

On the Desk: Summer Reading

2011-06-15T04:31:00.000-07:00

Click to Enlarge

Summer Reading Club has begun at libraries across the country, including our very own. You would not believe, unless you work in a library or take your own small person in to sign up how excited kids are to join. They love talking to the librarian one on one while they sign up, and later they are so enthusiastic about books they're reading for the pure joy of it. You can't get this kind of customer interaction anywhere else, but in a library.

Librarian D.O.A.'s June Garden 2

2011-06-14T07:04:00.001-07:00

Librarian D.O.A.'s photostream on Flickr.

Here is the progress in my garden. Trying Flickr for this show. Wishing it had transitions and other cute bling. The garden will need to Bling on it's own. The Beagle still doesn't like his picture taken, as you can see.

Hmmpf here is the actual slideshow. Tricksy.

Welcome to my Garden

2011-06-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

We took down our white picket fence this year and put up a privacy fence on a smaller section of yard. This makes the neighborhood a little quieter on the baying beagle alert front, and much calmer on the neighbor on a stick front. Soooo...also dealing with a wierdly cold then hot spring/summer beginning. The garden has a long way to go, but here is the new garden's beginning. Note: the beagles, as you can see, do not like the new fence. They can HEAR the enemy going by, but they can't SEE them unless they lay their head sideways and look under the gates.

Yesterday's Rebus Answer

2011-06-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

Deucedly simple:

Ask

Listen

Learn

Know

Rebus Time

2011-06-09T04:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a simple Rebus for you Rebus fans.

As always, click to enlarge

Virtual Reference

2011-06-08T04:09:00.000-07:00

I'm working a couple of days a week now at our main library.

We offer "Virtual Reference Services" but don't call it that. This means you can "talk" with a librarian via email, instant message, phone or text message and get short pithy answers to all of your virtual questions.

In the case of three of those types of interaction, you need to be succinct in your interactions for reasons of clarity and space.

On the phone, you could jabber away like a parrot, but somehow you don't. I'm wondering if there is something about the service being so physically and virtually removed from the customer that you tend to telegraph your questions and responses in the same way you do with the text based stuff. Just a thought.

My goal is to be perky and snuggly across all of the types so you get that Real Person feel.

Hello? Librarian D.O.A. here, how may I help you today?

The 75 Things Project

2011-06-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

My mother in law will reach a certain age later this year, and I thought a neat idea to celebrate that special birthday would be to create an uber gift basket with 75 small but fun objects in it.

I do the gift baskets for our Adult Reading program, so I think in terms of cool containers that might be fashioned into "gift baskets" around a theme. We'll need something cool yet useful that can hold 75 things in a charming display.

These are some of my ideas for this particular person (think small!):

Nail polish
Earrings
Bath salts
Cardinals
Lighthouses
Letters/Notes from old friends and relations remembering things about her, or saying how they feel about her, smooshy is good.
Pictures of her they might have tucked away that mean something to them.
A drawing/portrait of her from someone who is artistic
Snacks she likes
Garage sales-something on this theme
A Penny from her year of birth
Gift certificates or cards to favorite places
Momentos, small forgotten things that are celebrations or reminders

We have a few months, so this can be fun. The beauty of doing this sort of thing is, even if the person finds out you're doing it, they won't know what the objects are until they get the gift.

The Photo Booth Picture Strip can be created at Big Huge Labs.

D.O.A.'s Two Second Movie Reviews

2011-06-06T04:40:00.000-07:00

I've been working my way through my DVD collection and it is summertime, my favorite movie season, so here in very brief are my thoughts on the films I'm watching.

Click to Enlarge

Made with Make Beliefs Comix

Roseville Library Wins Design Award

2011-06-05T04:59:00.000-07:00

The remodeled Ramsey County Library in Roseville has won the 10 New Landmark Libraries Award given by Library Journal. It sounds lovely.

Roseville library is top-shelf

They are also rated among the Top Ten Haplr Index libraries.

The Dire Pen and the Library

2011-06-04T05:14:00.000-07:00

So much for that musty idea you had about libraries. People not only walk in the door, they lay in wait and stab people with pens.

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2141282.shtml?cat=1

So You Want to Be a Librarian...

2011-06-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

In today's library news, I found three excellent articles.

One on those daft British politicians who are thinking to save public monies by tossing library staff out the door and running libraries with volunteer help. Uh huh. From the Guardian, librarians are cut in a fell swoop. Note they mention how many people just walk by libraries every day and never enter. I'm sure there are no other places like that in society, especially in governmental services. Nope. Oxfordshire cuts test 'big society' as librarians are replaced with volunteers. Professional staff also to be removed from libraries in David Cameron and culture minister Ed Vaizey's constituencies

One on using RFID to check in materials, complete with a video, cute! This is actually working out to be a very slick technology. Library goes High Tech to save time, money.

One is from 2009 but it talks about becoming a librarian and what various library types are like, what expectations and realities are. Note they do not mention at all that you might be replaced by a random human or by a machine. How to become a librarian updated.